spoonshiro
@spoonshiro.com
Old man gamer, lover of retro games (especially RPGs), computer geek, writer, retired streamer. Guy who's reviewed over 500 RPGs and always hunting for more awesome ones.
https://www.spoonshiro.com
https://www.rpgreats.com
https://www.spoonshiro.com
https://www.rpgreats.com
It fires in eight directions, travels the entire length of the screen and does a lot of damage; not to mention being so energy efficient that you can fire it well over 60 times from full charge. If it weren't for some enemies and bosses being immune to it you could just use it the whole game.
November 12, 2025 at 3:25 PM
It fires in eight directions, travels the entire length of the screen and does a lot of damage; not to mention being so energy efficient that you can fire it well over 60 times from full charge. If it weren't for some enemies and bosses being immune to it you could just use it the whole game.
As a kid I'd usually start with Flash Man, since it's a pretty easy fight and you can get an E-tank on the way through.
I think nowadays most people start with Metal Man, though. You can get TWO E-tanks in his stage. Not to mention Metal Blade is one of the most ridiculously useful weapons ever.
I think nowadays most people start with Metal Man, though. You can get TWO E-tanks in his stage. Not to mention Metal Blade is one of the most ridiculously useful weapons ever.
November 12, 2025 at 3:20 PM
As a kid I'd usually start with Flash Man, since it's a pretty easy fight and you can get an E-tank on the way through.
I think nowadays most people start with Metal Man, though. You can get TWO E-tanks in his stage. Not to mention Metal Blade is one of the most ridiculously useful weapons ever.
I think nowadays most people start with Metal Man, though. You can get TWO E-tanks in his stage. Not to mention Metal Blade is one of the most ridiculously useful weapons ever.
You can see right away that this is a more substantial game than the first, with a more stylish stage select and eight new bosses to face.
Each Robot Master is also vulnerable to multiple weapons so it's not just trial and error to figure out the "proper" path this time.
Each Robot Master is also vulnerable to multiple weapons so it's not just trial and error to figure out the "proper" path this time.
November 12, 2025 at 2:37 PM
You can see right away that this is a more substantial game than the first, with a more stylish stage select and eight new bosses to face.
Each Robot Master is also vulnerable to multiple weapons so it's not just trial and error to figure out the "proper" path this time.
Each Robot Master is also vulnerable to multiple weapons so it's not just trial and error to figure out the "proper" path this time.
Mega Man 2. The first game acquired a following but wasn't exactly a roaring success, prompting Capcom to move on to other things. Its developers insisted the format and lobbied hard to create a sequel to implement many of the ideas ROM and time constraints of '87 wouldn't allow.
November 12, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Mega Man 2. The first game acquired a following but wasn't exactly a roaring success, prompting Capcom to move on to other things. Its developers insisted the format and lobbied hard to create a sequel to implement many of the ideas ROM and time constraints of '87 wouldn't allow.
Their first to break that threshold overall was actually Rad Racer/Highway Star. Sold nearly 2 million copies in fact (most of them in North America)
November 11, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Their first to break that threshold overall was actually Rad Racer/Highway Star. Sold nearly 2 million copies in fact (most of them in North America)
Okay I'll stop and go play Dragon Quest now
November 11, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Okay I'll stop and go play Dragon Quest now
But we'll talk more about that game tomorrow. In the meantime, Mega Man 1 is available on many formats as part of the Mega Man Legacy Collection, and there was even a remake on the PSP called Mega Man Powered Up that added a lot of new content and had a sillier tone to go with its chibi art style.
November 11, 2025 at 9:04 PM
But we'll talk more about that game tomorrow. In the meantime, Mega Man 1 is available on many formats as part of the Mega Man Legacy Collection, and there was even a remake on the PSP called Mega Man Powered Up that added a lot of new content and had a sillier tone to go with its chibi art style.
Of course I'd you're not in the mood for his crap you can also just exploit the pause glitch and turn phase 2 into a mockery. Either way, you win. Fight, Mega Man! For everlasting peace!
November 11, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Of course I'd you're not in the mood for his crap you can also just exploit the pause glitch and turn phase 2 into a mockery. Either way, you win. Fight, Mega Man! For everlasting peace!
The second phase is definitely trickier as his cannon fires out large orbs that spiral around and are generally very difficult to avoid. He also doesn't take extra damage from anything, but slower weapons like the Thunder Beam and Rolling Cutter can hit multiple times per shot.
November 11, 2025 at 8:46 PM
The second phase is definitely trickier as his cannon fires out large orbs that spiral around and are generally very difficult to avoid. He also doesn't take extra damage from anything, but slower weapons like the Thunder Beam and Rolling Cutter can hit multiple times per shot.
Wily attacks in a flying machine with a turret on the front, launching shells into the air at an arc. The first stage is easy enough with Fire Storm, especially if you get in close to let the orbiting fireball land multiple hits per shot.
November 11, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Wily attacks in a flying machine with a turret on the front, launching shells into the air at an arc. The first stage is easy enough with Fire Storm, especially if you get in close to let the orbiting fireball land multiple hits per shot.
The next level is actually really short but has a tricky fight. You get to fight seven of these circling bubble machines, and for each one you destroy the next one gets faster and more aggressive. Hyper Bomb does good damage but is difficult to hit with, especially when they get really fast.
November 11, 2025 at 8:31 PM
The next level is actually really short but has a tricky fight. You get to fight seven of these circling bubble machines, and for each one you destroy the next one gets faster and more aggressive. Hyper Bomb does good damage but is difficult to hit with, especially when they get really fast.
The first boss is the Yellow Devil, a pretty infamous recurring boss battle in the series. He breaks apart piece by piece and re-forms on the opposite side of the room, only becoming vulnerable for a brief moment when he opens his eye to fire a projectile.
November 11, 2025 at 7:58 PM
The first boss is the Yellow Devil, a pretty infamous recurring boss battle in the series. He breaks apart piece by piece and re-forms on the opposite side of the room, only becoming vulnerable for a brief moment when he opens his eye to fire a projectile.
Anyway his weapon is the Fire Storm, which is more or less the first "shield" weapon in the series. It launches out a fireball straight ahead but also generates a small orbiting fireball around Mega Man, which damages anything it touches.
November 11, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Anyway his weapon is the Fire Storm, which is more or less the first "shield" weapon in the series. It launches out a fireball straight ahead but also generates a small orbiting fireball around Mega Man, which damages anything it touches.
Finally there's Fire Man, because every platformer needs a level with a lot of flame jets and instant-death lava traps.
He's also super aggressive, just launching a constant barrage of fire waves at you and generating more flames under your feet so you can't even land safely.
He's also super aggressive, just launching a constant barrage of fire waves at you and generating more flames under your feet so you can't even land safely.
November 11, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Finally there's Fire Man, because every platformer needs a level with a lot of flame jets and instant-death lava traps.
He's also super aggressive, just launching a constant barrage of fire waves at you and generating more flames under your feet so you can't even land safely.
He's also super aggressive, just launching a constant barrage of fire waves at you and generating more flames under your feet so you can't even land safely.
Next up is Ice Man, but don't be put off by the cute appearance - he hits just as hard as Elec Man does. Thankfully his pattern is much easier to avoid though, and he goes down quickly to the Thunder Beam, earning you the Ice Slasher.
November 11, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Next up is Ice Man, but don't be put off by the cute appearance - he hits just as hard as Elec Man does. Thankfully his pattern is much easier to avoid though, and he goes down quickly to the Thunder Beam, earning you the Ice Slasher.
This creates temporary platforms for you to stand on, which you can make as long as you like by holding down the button. They only last a short while, but it does greatly simplify many platforming sections. It's also mandatory to get through Wily's fortress.
November 11, 2025 at 7:18 PM
This creates temporary platforms for you to stand on, which you can make as long as you like by holding down the button. They only last a short while, but it does greatly simplify many platforming sections. It's also mandatory to get through Wily's fortress.
On the way through his stage you'll also spot a strange icon behind two blocks. This is the Magnet Beam, the only utility item in the game. Before there was Rush and even Item 1, 2 and 3, there was the Magnet Beam. And you will need it, so be sure to pick it up.
November 11, 2025 at 7:18 PM
On the way through his stage you'll also spot a strange icon behind two blocks. This is the Magnet Beam, the only utility item in the game. Before there was Rush and even Item 1, 2 and 3, there was the Magnet Beam. And you will need it, so be sure to pick it up.
Elec Man is probably the most infamous of the MM1 Robot Masters, and rightfully so - he's very speedy and his Thunder Beam will kill you in about three hits. Definitely frustrating considering his stage is also a gauntlet of narrow jumps and the infamous vanishing/reappearing blocks.
November 11, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Elec Man is probably the most infamous of the MM1 Robot Masters, and rightfully so - he's very speedy and his Thunder Beam will kill you in about three hits. Definitely frustrating considering his stage is also a gauntlet of narrow jumps and the infamous vanishing/reappearing blocks.
Cut Man comes next, and he's definitely one of the harder bosses to avoid; he jumps around a lot and tosses around his head-scissors, which always boomerang back to him.
Two thrown blocks will take him out quick though, and his room has exactly that many. Just don't miss!
Two thrown blocks will take him out quick though, and his room has exactly that many. Just don't miss!
November 11, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Cut Man comes next, and he's definitely one of the harder bosses to avoid; he jumps around a lot and tosses around his head-scissors, which always boomerang back to him.
Two thrown blocks will take him out quick though, and his room has exactly that many. Just don't miss!
Two thrown blocks will take him out quick though, and his room has exactly that many. Just don't miss!
It doesn't do anything on its own, but if you touch certain blocks with it equipped they'll flash. Press the button once to lift up the block, then press again to throw it. It does massive damage when it lands, but it's very circumstantial.
November 11, 2025 at 7:07 PM
It doesn't do anything on its own, but if you touch certain blocks with it equipped they'll flash. Press the button once to lift up the block, then press again to throw it. It does massive damage when it lands, but it's very circumstantial.
He's also pretty big and slow but it's still tricky to hit him since he has an annoying tendency to leap out of the bomb's range at the very last moment. When he stomps the ground it stuns you too.
Defeating him gets you the Super Arm, which is one of the more bizarre weapons in the franchise.
Defeating him gets you the Super Arm, which is one of the more bizarre weapons in the franchise.
November 11, 2025 at 7:07 PM
He's also pretty big and slow but it's still tricky to hit him since he has an annoying tendency to leap out of the bomb's range at the very last moment. When he stomps the ground it stuns you too.
Defeating him gets you the Super Arm, which is one of the more bizarre weapons in the franchise.
Defeating him gets you the Super Arm, which is one of the more bizarre weapons in the franchise.
As for the bosses that did make it in, most people go for Bomb Man first, since his level and the boss fight against him are relatively easy. The Power Bomb is quite a powerful weapon, albeit tricky to use since there's a substantial delay between tossing it out and detonation.
November 11, 2025 at 6:01 PM
As for the bosses that did make it in, most people go for Bomb Man first, since his level and the boss fight against him are relatively easy. The Power Bomb is quite a powerful weapon, albeit tricky to use since there's a substantial delay between tossing it out and detonation.
Bubble Man would later be used in Mega Man 2 while Oil Man eventually appeared in the game's remake. Bond Man was left out to preserve his "legendary" status, though.
He did at least get a shout-out in the Archie comic though, which earns it some points in my book.
He did at least get a shout-out in the Archie comic though, which earns it some points in my book.
November 11, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Bubble Man would later be used in Mega Man 2 while Oil Man eventually appeared in the game's remake. Bond Man was left out to preserve his "legendary" status, though.
He did at least get a shout-out in the Archie comic though, which earns it some points in my book.
He did at least get a shout-out in the Archie comic though, which earns it some points in my book.
They did initially plan a seventh Robot Master; a glue-themed robot named Bond Man. He was ultimately cut owing to ROM constraints, as well as his gimmick (immobilizing enemies) being made redundant by Ice Man's weapon.
Bubble Man and Oil Man were also among the early concepts.
Bubble Man and Oil Man were also among the early concepts.
November 11, 2025 at 4:33 PM
They did initially plan a seventh Robot Master; a glue-themed robot named Bond Man. He was ultimately cut owing to ROM constraints, as well as his gimmick (immobilizing enemies) being made redundant by Ice Man's weapon.
Bubble Man and Oil Man were also among the early concepts.
Bubble Man and Oil Man were also among the early concepts.
The usual number is 8, though they explain this by saying Rock and Roll were part of the original line and Wily skipped over them as he reprogrammed them in his bid for world domination.
The PSP remake (Powered Up) adds two new ones though: Oil Man and Time Man.
The PSP remake (Powered Up) adds two new ones though: Oil Man and Time Man.
November 11, 2025 at 4:17 PM
The usual number is 8, though they explain this by saying Rock and Roll were part of the original line and Wily skipped over them as he reprogrammed them in his bid for world domination.
The PSP remake (Powered Up) adds two new ones though: Oil Man and Time Man.
The PSP remake (Powered Up) adds two new ones though: Oil Man and Time Man.